Why go
This geography is useful before planning a route. Peace Memorial Park, the castle district and many central streets sit amid river branches, so a short distance on a map may involve choosing a bridge. The surrounding hills and islands offer a different sense of scale from the compact delta center.
The full story
The Ōta River spreads into several channels before reaching Hiroshima Bay and the Seto Inland Sea. Central Hiroshima developed on the low ground between them, while much of the wider city rises into hills to the north, east and west. The Motoyasu River runs beside Peace Memorial Park; the Honkawa lies on the park's other side. Other branches, including the Kyōbashi and Enkō rivers, divide the eastern part of the delta. This explains why bridges are prominent in a central walk and why a straight line on a map need not be the simplest way across town. The flatter center also contrasts sharply with districts built up the surrounding slopes. A river crossing, a castle visit and a view toward the bay make the city's physical setting easier to grasp than a list of elevations.